Real-Life Inquiry-Based GC/MS Experiments for General Education Chemistry Courses

化学(12)化学系正在为理科和非理科专业的通识教育化学课程制定重大改进措施。改进的重点是两个专题领域，法医化学和环境化学，并包括增加使用GC/MS的指导性探究性实验室实验。该项目解决了几个相关需求：面向应用的现实生活学习环境，以及直接主动参与教学法的使用。正在利用积极的探究性实验框架为几门课程开发新的法医和环境实验(一些实验也在根据现有材料进行改编)。这些新的实验侧重于使用配备自动取样器的GC/MS，并建立远程数据分析站点，以允许实验部门每个部门定期使用18-24名学生。正在开发12个实验(4个改编自已发表的作品，8个是新的)，包括两个服务学习实验。该项目还包括一个外展部分，包括为地区高中教师举办的一系列讲习班。研讨会提供现代仪器的实践经验，包括GC/MS、核磁共振、AA和FTIR，以及强调基于探究的实验、实际应用和服务学习项目。该项目是由罗阿诺克学院正在进行的课程修订过程提供信息的。统一的愿景是所有通识教育课程的“基本问题”模式，每门通识教育课程都强调积极探究。在这种模式下，主修和非主修的科学入门课程都在重新组织，强调当前的应用、当前的问题和现代方法。该项目的智力价值包括开发新的课程材料，将重要的现实生活应用程序带入理科专业和非专业学生的实验室体验。新的和调整后的实验特别适合于普通教育环境，并包括适当的主动学习教学法。在高级课程和本科生研究中使用GC/MS也会带来第二个好处。该项目的更广泛影响包括传播编写的课程材料，为高中教师举办讲习班，以及改善许多青年公民的科学教育，包括科学专业和非科学专业的学生。每年，大约有400名学生受到修订后的实验室课程的影响，24名高中教师参加了讲习班。

Chemistry (12)The Chemistry Department is developing major enhancements to the general education chemistry courses, for both science majors and non-science majors. The enhancements focus on two topical areas, forensic chemistry and environmental chemistry, and include the addition of guided inquiry laboratory experiments using GC/MS. The project addresses several related needs: an applications oriented real life context for learning, and the use of direct active involvement pedagogies. New forensic and environmental experiments are being developed (and some also are being adapted from existing materials) for several courses, using the active inquiry experimental framework. These new experiments focus on using a GC/MS equipped with an autosampler and theestablishment of a remote data analysis site to allow regular use by laboratorysections of 18-24 students per section. Twelve experiments (four adapted from published works, eight new) are being developed, including two service learning experiments. The project also includes an outreach component, consisting of a series of workshops for area high school teachers. Workshops are providing hands-on experience with modern instrumentation, including GC/MS, NMR, AA, and FTIR, as well as emphasizing inquiry based experimentation, real-life applications, and service learning projects. The project is informed by the ongoing curricular revision process at Roanoke College. The unifying vision is an "Essential Questions" model for all general education classes, with active inquiry being emphasized in every General Education course. Introductory science courses for both majors and non-majors are being re-structured within this model, emphasizing current applications, current questions, and modern approaches. The intellectual merit of the project includes the development of new curricular materials bringing important real life applications into the laboratory experience of both science majors and non-majors. The new and adapted experiments are uniquely suited to the general education setting and include appropriate active learning pedagogies. Secondary benefits also result from the use of the GC/MS in upper level courses and undergraduate research. Broader impacts of the project include the dissemination of the curricular materials developed, workshops for high school teachers, and the improvement in the scientific education of many young citizens, both science majors and non-science majors. Each year, approximately 400 students are being impacted by the revised laboratory courses, and 24 high school teachers are participating in the workshops.